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Reviews by michalmichal

78

Fresh and fun games

The very concept of Scribblenauts is pretty fresh, although it's rooted in the old text-based adventure games. In Scribblenauts text is important again, because you create and modify items by typing. It may add some kind of educational aspect to the games, but even for more adult players it can remain fresh and entertaining. Both games are fun, with the second one being based in the DC universe and populated with superheroes. You know, Superman, Batman, Justice League, and a bunch of their adversaries. Both games are full of humour, maybe not the kind that would make you laugh out loud, but surely will bring smile to your face more than a couple times. Both games are pretty casual ones, not very demanding, and may be considered too easy for some hardcore gamers.

88

Great fantasy strategy game

I always thought that the first Warlock game was a kind of under-appreciated for how enjoyable it really was. I enjoyed it much more than the price tag would suggest and always thought it was similar to the old Master of Magic, or newer Fallen Enchantress or maybe even Civilization. I hope the new Warlock 2: The Exiled game will finally earn the appreciation and praises the franchise deserves. The game looks even better and improves upon what was already good, providing for even more enjoyable gameplay. The game is a successful mix of several concepts, already known from other games like Heroes of Might and Magic (recruiting heroes and armies), Civilization (expansion of your empire) and Master of Magic (crucial role of magic in your strategy). For every fan of fantasy strategy gaming this game seems like a must-have.

72

Good old Amiga game!

Chaos Engine is an old classic that some gamers may still remember from their 16-bit days, when the game was a big Amiga hit. Now we can relive the same experience, because the game is not a modern remake - it has the same gameplay, the same graphics and music. It feels like a 20 years old game but it's a good one. The gameplay remains enjoyable but the game cannot hide its age, as it shows from every bit of the game. Fortunately the game tends to be cheap, comparable in its price to many games for mobile devices. And in fact that's what it would be easy to compare this game to - mobile games. So if you're nostalgic about the 90s or want to play something that would easily belong to the world of mobile gaming, get the Chaos Engine and enjoy it! Especially that in the 2-pack the price of one copy is even lower.

75

Fast paced shooter

Rage Runner is a very dynamic shooter in which you will pilot your spacecraft in a long tunnel or a trench, trying to avoid obstacles and shoot your enemies. As simple and familiar as it may sound, the concept remains fun and is really well executed. The game doesn't shine with crazy visuals, but the graphics is surely decent enough, and the sound is enjoyable and fits the mood of the game. If you are into fast shooters, you cannot go wrong with Rage Runner. Otherwise it may be safer to wait for a special offer, especially if you are not sure if you will enjoy the genre and have no experience with it. In my opinion, for such a cheap game, it offers a heap of fun!

65

Not much content but good price

Light Aurora Customization for Child of Light is not my preferred kind of DLC - a nearly cosmetic one. Although it adds more than just a new outfit for the character, Aurora, it's not really much. There's one more skill and some new rough occuli. Well, the DLC is not expensive, that's true, but I could easily do without it. On the other hand you may find it useful, so if you have enough money and want to expand Child of Light a bit, it's an OK purchase. Just don't expect any new content from it gameplay-wise. If you are aware of it and prepared for it, you may be more satisfied than I am.

75

If you liked the game, get more

Blackguards may be a hit or miss choice for many gamers. Some will love it for the dark mood, story and characters, while some will be disappointed with the outcome of Daedalic's venture into the RPG genre. If you don't like the game, I will not try to convince you to get a DLC for it. But if you liked the atmosphere, story, RPG elements or strategic parts of the game, you might want to add some more content to the game. The Untold Legends DLC pack adds new quests for these who liked the RPG aspect of the game, and new battle maps for these who like xcom-like strategic combat. Then there are some new weapons and additional tracks to listen while playing. All in all, it seems it's a decent DLC pack.

75

Shaman and two more

Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag moved the story to the age of pirates, offering pretty new approach to the subject, new locations and new characters. Obviously the period offers room for even more variety and these options are covered in the Guild of Rogues DLC for Assassin's Creed IV. The DLC adds three new playable characters, each of them with very distinct and unique style and options allowing to customize them even further.

My favourite must be the shaman, totally awesome looking tribal priest with feral and mystic feel. Then there's a nice mermaid (no, not a real mermaid with a fishtail and such), who's a female navigator. And last but not least there's the stowaway, looking dirty and gritty, but for me the least interesting in the pack. The price is really low, so even for the shaman alone I think it's worth recommending this pack. Not essential but still interesting.

78

Relaxing experience

Is PixelJunk Eden really a game? Or maybe just a relaxing experience? It can be either, depending on what you want from it. PixelJunk Eden may be considered a simple platformer with relaxing art - both sound and visuals. There's not much gameplay in it and it doesn't feature complex physics, so typical for modern games. On the other hand it offers very enjoyable and relaxing experience, which will leave the feeling that the time was well spent and the game was worth its price. It's more on the casual side of things, not a hardcore gamer's thing. But if you have some spare money and want to relax while playing some pleasant game, this is a perfect choice for you.

81

If you like hidden object games, get this one

Legacy Tales: Mercy of the Gallows is surely a casual game, but as far as casual games go, this one is a good one. It has pretty graphics and good sound (including well done voice acting), some puzzles, element of travel, and this all is backed up by decent storyline. Now in the Collector's Edition one gets some bonus material in addition to the game. There's an additional mystery called "Who is the man behind the mask?" to solve, collection of beautiful concept art, original soundtracks and an integrated Strategy Guide. So if you enjoy hidden object games and like pretty looking games like I do, this enhanced edition will surely be worth the price for you.

85

Good racer, now with all DLCs

Grid 2 is a great racing game. Sure, it's more on the arcade side than a realistic simulation, but in the arcade class it really shines. It can be both thrilling and relaxing, and can even be played in split screen mode, so you can enjoy the game with another gamer sitting next to you. And now the Reloaded edition gives you access to all the DLCs released so far - new cars, new tracks and game modes - they all can keep you interested in this game for even longer. Comparing the price of the game all the DLCs purchased individually and the Reloaded pack, it's obvious that it's better to get the whole pack instead of purchasing things individually.

82

Shooter + platformer

To me Iron Soul seems much like Rise of the Triad, although both games are very different.

Rise of the Triad is very unserious kind of a shooter, while Iron Soul is much more serious and has a decent background story too. The common element of both games is that they combine a dynamic shooter with a platformer. So not only you have to look around and clear your surroundings of enemies, but also jump on platforms and seriously exercise your manual skills.

Iron Soul is still a very new game, which hasn't built a large gamer base yet, but it's interesting enough to make me convinced that it's only a matter of time.

87

The dead are marching in!

Fallen Enchantress: Legendary Heroes – The Dead World DLC introduces a new faction to the game, and it's the Empire of the Dead.

With new units and new characters, there also comes a range of new monsters, spells, and a completely new map. For every Fallen Enchantress: Legendary Heroes player this expansion must be the most exciting of all released so far. The undead play completely different, as they don't need any food and are mustered in a different way than their living adversaries. This DLC makes the game feel much more complete and enjoyable. Now you can feel the fantasy world is not missing the important thing that forces of the undead are.

80

I didn't know one could still buy it!

I played it years ago, when it was still a new game. It was so thrilling to move all these fantastic creatures around and battle them against their fantastic enemies. Castles that could be improved, big land to explore, fantastic graphics and feeling of exciting adventure was what made this game so unique.

Now that many years have passed, the game doesn't shine as much as it did back then, but it's still interesting to play for some time. Even if only to see where the great series started and to witness its evolution.

80

Hours and hours of hot-seat mode

While Heroes of Might and Magic was the game which kept me addicted to its single player campaign, in the second game, Heroes of Might and Magic II, we spent lots of time with my friends playing together in the hot-seat mode. Even watching the others perform their actions and fight their fights was interesting enough to keep staring at the screen.

And now, years later, we can re-play the game with its expansion, The Price of Loyalty, which was unavailable to us back then. Well, I know it's not going to feel the same, but even if only for nostalgia, it's worth installing the game again and playing for some time.

85

Exceptional racer

If you like racing games and feel need for adrenaline rush, TrackMania² Canyon should meet your expectations.

Not only it's a great racer, but it's an unusual racer, indeed! Instead of driving on normal roads and courses, you will get to drive on risky and thrilling canyon courses with ramps, gaps, jumps, walls, and so on. You will feel like a racing driver and a stunt driver, with all the obstacles you will face. And after a race is finished, you will immediately want more and more.

The game keeps you motivated by including good community features, which keep you interested and encourage to play on. And surely that's what you will do.

80

No "wow" and no "boo"

Many people stay away from any game which is called a tower defense. But Sanctum 2 is a special interpretation of the genre, because after setting up your defenses you can personally join the battle and participate in the defense in a FPS way. The Last Stand DLC is the final DLC for Sanctum 2 (which is also included in the Season Pass if you bought it), and it follows the tradition set by the previous DLCs. It adds more of the same, but if you like the game (and why would you buy DLCs for a game you don't like?) you will surely want more missions, enemies and turrets again. In no way the DLC shines more than the previous ones but it also doesn't disappoint at all. There's no huge 'wow' but also no 'boo' here. Just another solid addition to a unique game.

65

Completionists only

OK, this mission may be interesting. It may be very well done. It fits the game well and expands it with additional gameplay and story. But hey, it's unbelievably short. I doubt if it can keep you busy for an hour, or even half of it. I would recommend it to collectors and completionists only, or maybe hardcore fans of the game. It's not bad by any means, but it's simply too short to be worth the money in my opinion. Originally it was only available as a preorder bonus but now it can be purchased separately. So if you missed the preorders, you can still fill the gap in your collection.

95

Excellent adventure with mediocre graphics

Short version of this review could say: Cognition is excellent, get it if you like adventure games. But to explain it a bit better, let me say that the game is the kind of adventure games which made the genre so popular. Great story, which could easily be used for a TV series like CSI or a movie, reasonable and well designed puzzles, and enough content to put many other games to shame. It's not that the game (four episodes) is like for example Telltale games with their short 2-3 hours long episodes. Every episode can keep you busy for like 5-6 hours, so the whole game will offer 20-25 hours of great fun. I could only wish the graphics was better. It looks very indie and quite unprofessional. But don't let it distract you and discourage from playing this excellent game.

75

Four characters for multiplayer mode

Assassin's Creed Revelations Ancestors Character Pack adds four new characters for use in multiplayer mode of Assassin's Creed Revelations. Each of these characters comes with their own skin, taunts, moves and weapons, so they will differ as far as both gameplay and visuals go. Whether you want to be a brigand, a privateer, a corsair, or even a gladiator - now you can do it. Additionally two of these characters are male and two are female, which adds some more diversity to your choices. Unfortunately this pack can be considered useless for somebody who only plays the single player mode, but there is nothing which should keep you away from some multiplayer fun.

79

Pretty good DLC

The Illustrious Pirates is a DLC pack for Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag. If you expected it to be only a pack of new clothes, you were oh so wrong. Not only it includes three single player outfits, but also new missions (Black Island, Mystery Island, Sacrifice Island), new customizations, weapons, and so on. If you think the Black Flag feels incomplete or are craving for more, this pack feels like a good choice. On the other hand it will not be enough to make you love the game if it is not your kind of game. Some people complained that they didn't enjoy Assassin's Creed 4 as much as they enjoyed the previous parts. I think it's a good game, which can be made even better and last longer with some additional DLCs like this one.

68

Back to Half-life

Half-life: Blue Shift is a follow-up or a spinoff from the main Half-life game (the first one). It features the same Black Mesa research facility, and is built on the same engine as Half Life, so if you are familiar with the first Half-life you will not be surprised here, and the gameplay will be easy to get used to. Although it didn't feel as fascinating as the main Half-life game, it is a must-play for every Half-life franchise fan. Visually it seems dated now, and the gameplay reveals it's not a new game, but still it's fun and it expands the storyline, so whoever is interested in the Half-life universe shouldn't miss this one out.

88

How great franchises are born

If you are not familiar with Valve's shooter games, the Source Multiplayer Pack is a great way to try them out. It includes a great and diverse selection of games, representing three different settings and genres. Day of Defeat: Source is an improved version of Day of Defeat, a great World War II shooter, now built on the popular Source engine. Counter-Strike: Source is a counter-terrorist action game, one of the most famous shooters, and as addictive as it can get. Half-Life 2: Deathmatch is a science-fiction shooter in the universe of Half-life. All of these games are multiplayer games, with active online gamer communities, so they are guaranteed to provide countless hours of great fun and unlimited replayability thanks to the fact you will be playing against other gamers.

82

Very affordable and enjoyable shooter in African setting

Although Far Cry 2 is not as great and visually breathtaking as the latest Fr Cry 3, it's still a good game. Although the characters cannot compare to the cast of Far Cry 3, they can still keep you interested in the story. Although the African setting is not as impressive as the tropical island of Far Cry 3, it's still looking good after all the years. Yes, surely Far Cry 2 is still a game to play if you haven't played it yet. And just as you might expect it's a great blend of several concepts - much shooting, some driving and exploration, some interaction with others, and many missions to complete. There are not many shooters in african setting, so I chose to check this one out and I was not disappointed. And it's so cheap these days, that it's an expense that's easy to justify.

72

More than a cheap Medieval: Total War II clone

Some might think that Real Warfare 2: Northern Crusades is a cheaper clone of Medieval: Total War II or Mount & Blade. But let's not the appearances mislead you and give this game a chance. It's a nice mix of strategy and RPG, set in an interesting period, with good gameplay and pretty decent execution. My most important complaint which made gaming less enjoyable and more difficult was the excessive use of bloom, which seems to be used to cover some shortcomings of the game's graphics. In my opinion it would look better (and play easier) with more limited application of bloom, because everything would be more legible. This thing aside, it is a good medieval strategy, allowing you to mount massive mounted charges or infantry assaults. And if it is not enough or the computer is not a sufficient opponent, you can try your skills against another human player in a multiplayer mode.

87

Excellent additions to great light strategy.

I cannot believe it's already the seventh Settlers game, and the whole series remains as much fun as it always used to be. Of course, it's not the same kind of a breakthrough game that kept everybody talking about it but keeping the series alive and interesting throughout seven incarnations is an accomplishment in itself! This game looks great, like a cartoon for children but the gameplay is not childish at all. It involves serious decision making and takes a lot of planning. Sure, it isn't Europa Universalis or Crusader Kings, but it was never meant to be. It's more like a casual light-hearted empire building game, and it does its job perfectly. The Deluxe edition includes additional maps, which will surely please every gamer, and which are really well made. There are additional buildings and elements to be created, new missions to play and new locations to visit. Unless you expect a srtrategy game to be a heavy brain-burner, you should be delighted to play Settlers 7.

81

More of a puzzler than platformer

It might seem that Mousecraft is just another platformer. And yes, it really looks like one, but in fact it's more of a puzzle game, in which your brain will be as busy (if not busier) as your fingers. The game merges some concepts known from other games like Tetris and Lemmings. The whole thing is about creating a safe passage for your mouse, but there will be puzzles that you need to solve to open the passage and clear the way. You can also pay some attention to quite amusing and fun background story, which will lead you through the game, even though it's not necessary it still adds to the overall experience.

79

Great genre mashup in space

Ring Runner: Flight of the Sages follows in the footsteps of some other great space flight games. It's a fantastic mix of genres, mixing arcade shooter with some RPG elements. You get a good storyline, great dialogues, memorable characters, interesting missions and a lot of space flying and fighting. If I was to have any complaints is that the game could offer a bit more of an "open space" feel and experience, because now it is pretty much mission and episode oriented. Not that it is a bad thing, as it allows to play the game in the way and follow the story that the designers intended. And if you like space flight games, you mustn't ignore this title.

70

Mean and gritty looking guns

What online players love is customizing their characters. Of course there are exceptions to this rule, but generally this statement remains correct. The Killing Floor: Camo Weapon Pack allows Killing Floor players to use completely new versions of weapons - this time they come covered in camo patterns. There are four weapons, each for a different class, namely:
M4 for the commando, M32 for the demolition man, MP5 for the medic, and Shotgun for support specialists. The first two are covered with the modern "digital" camo, while the later two use the "blood splatter" pattern. Both camo patterns look great, especially if you want your character to look meaner and grittier.

80

More of the same goodies

Some say Payday 2 is the best co-operative game ever made. Although I am not so hyped about it, I still consider it great, possibly one of the best. If you are hungry for more, the Armored Transport DLC offers more of the same, but don't you think it's any kind of boring or monotoneous! It's as good as the base game and simply adds more of everything. You want new heists? Sure, it has them. New achievements? Check. New masks and designs? Sure, check again. You want new weapons? Of course they're there. So while the addon is not surprising in any way, I think it's a good thing because the game is simply build of good things, so adding more of them simply makes it even better and more replayable.

74

Looks old, plays fine

In modern gamer's eyes Half-life: Opposing Fronts may look bad, even funny, with all the boxy models, simplific meshes and textures. But don't let the appearances mislead you. It's a good game, even if not as good as the original Half-life. It takes the story of the main game and adds a completely new storyline, in which the military attempt to get rid of doctor Freeman. If you cannot get past the barrier of dated visuals, move on and play some of the next-gen games, but if you appreciate interesting stories or are interested in the Half-life franchise, you cannot ignore this game.

75

Enjoyable action RPG with a vampire couple

If you like action RPGs and are open for surprising genre mashups, you should take a look at Blood Knights. It includes vampires, it includes werewolves, there's magic, there's lot of action and it's all set in an interesting world. The main characters are vampires - a male melee specialist and a female magician. You can switch between these two to combine their skills and styles into the most effective combinations and optimize your strategy. The game is interesting and enjoyable, although it doesn't allow any demanding player to take it very seriously. The storyline and interactions could be developed better, but the game is in its heart an action game with some RPG elements, and it does this job well enough.

95

Black Flag with all the goodies

While Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is a good product in itself (oh, it's very good, even excellent I would say), the Gold edition makes it even better because it includes the Season Pass with all the extra goodies you might want for the game. The pass includes all the DLCs available for the game (except for the special preorder addons). So what you get is some extra weapons, additional relics, new costumes, but these are only minor additions in comparison to the additional missions added in Sacrificed Secrets Pack, Hidden Mystery Pack, and the Black Island Pack. Then there's the Aveline pack with additional gameplay, like an hour of it. So if you expect to like Assassin's Creed IV, I would recommend getting this Gold edition to save yourself the trouble of purchasing the DLCs separately.

97

Excellent expansion for long hours of gaming.

The King's Bounty series used to be a worthy rival for the Heroes of Might and Magic games, and even now after release of HoMM 5 and 6, the games still remain excellent choices in their genre. The Crossworlds expansion is an expansion to the Armoured Princess game. It includes the excellent and widely praised Orcs on the March expansion, plus two new campaigns. They all add new items, new creatures, new enemies, and new quests to pursue. This expansion alone will guarantee dozens of hours of excellent gaming time. So good that I didn't even get to purchase the Warriors of the North expansion, so you can see how good time I am having with this one.

82

Addictive and challenging

The Men of War series feels like a pretty demanding incarnation of a World War 2 RTS (real time strategy game). It is less casual than some other RTS-es, like the Dawn of War or Company of Heroes games. It can become frustrating or make you quit the game in anger only to find yourself returning to the challenges over and over again until you finally manage to beat them. The game is addictive and challenging. There's little room for mistakes and little tolerance for incompetence. You need to lead your men well, chose their tasks as optimally as you can, and when things get really nasty, you can even zoom in to the battlefield and control one of your men directly. And then you will want to get the next Men of War games...

80

Peak point in the series

Star Wolves 2 must be the peak point of the series. It expands and improves what was good in the first one and fixes some issues that people complained about. On the other hand it doesn't fall into the trap of becoming too detached from the storyline and completely sandbox-like. You are still guided by the story and your game will be focused on completing missions, and the game manages to give you the right balance of freedom and structure. You are not left completely on your own like it is in the third game in the series, which is all about getting richer and more powerful. Here you have just enough of it to let you enjoy the game and freedom, yet the storyline is interesting enough to guide you through the game. For me it's the best Space Wolves game.

87

Perfect adventure game again

The Deponia series was always full of everything we love about Daedalic Entertainment games: beautiful visuals, great humour, interesting stories and well designed puzzles. Now the Goodbye Deponia is the latest part of the series, and everything looks like it's going to be the last one. It's a pity, because its quality never dropped below what we know from the previous two Deponia games: Deponia and Chaos on Deponia. And to make it even better instead of one Rufus you will get three of them in this game. Not going into the storyline too deep to avoid possible spoilers, I can recommend this game as a perfect example of what adventure games should be like.

90

Who's afraid of THE big bad wolf?

If you liked the Walking Dead, you will love the Wolf Among Us. It looks similar, but even better. It plays equally good but even more exciting. It uses the well tried schemas but puts them to the best use I've seen. It is based on the Fables comic books from DC Comics/Vertigo, so I think most comic books fans will easily recognize the way things go and characters are. If you don't know yet, the books are not really targetted at children, they're pretty much adult stuff, and so is the game. I wouldn't recommend it to younger or more sensitive audience, but if you are a veteran adventure gamer and enjoy mature approach to gaming, this will be your game.

70

Just screams: ARCADE

Is this really the same game I spent so much time playing on my mobile? In case it is, and I still need to check if it really is the same and probably lose even more time to it. Of course the experience is very different here because of different controls and much better graphics, not to mention sound. It lacks the portability of a mobile game that you can carry with you everywhere you go, but hey, it's a great light-on-thinking relaxing shooter. The game feels like one of the good old arcade games which put you in a speeding vehicle only to blast everything around you with your weapons. Now you will be chasing an escaping vehicle with your flying tank, collecting power-ups and shooting at enemies who try to slow you down. Doesn't it sound familiar? For me it does, and this sentimental trip makes me like this game.

80

Preorder goodies

I missed the preorder offer for Dishonored. In fact I think I wouldn't have preordered it anyway, as I couldn't have known it was going to be this good. So I was missing all the preorder-exclusive bonus stuff until I found out about the Void Walker’s Arsenal add-on. It includes all the content from preorder special bonus packs: Acrobatic Killer Pack, Arcane Assassin Pack, Backstreet Butcher Pack, and Shadow Rat Pack. Each of these packs will give you some enhancements which will allow you to tailor your character to your preferred gameplay style. For so much content, the price of less than 4 dollars feels like a steal, so if you don't have it and are planning to play some Dishonored, this pack enhances your character very well

69

Secretary siren?

Now here I am a bit partial. I tend to like most of the new skins for Borderlands 2 characters, but the Learned Warrior skin for the siren leaves me a bit unsure. I am not quite convinced if I am open enough to such uncommon ideas as making the siren look as a secretary. Of course, not the peaceful and quiet one but more of a bold one, but still more of an office worker than a field operator. Yes, she may be a scientist as well, and the costume looks very good, but is it enough to convince me? Well, the skin is really good and different than the basic one, but I am not convinced I prefer it over the original. You may be more open minded though and love it more than I do.

75

They say it's a beatmaster, I say no.

The Mechromancer Beatmaster Pack adds a new skin and costume for the mechromancer character from Borderlands 2. They say it's a beatmaster but my feelings are different. I think it's the striped stockings which make me think about her more as of a kind of sci-fi Alice in Wonderland than a beatmaster. Of course she's got all the music gear and stuff, but still I can't help my feelings. It's a great outfit, full of character and unique. She looks very modern yet still pretty girly, which suits the character very well. If you like the mechromancer character and are tired of the standard skin, this one may be a good choice for you.

78

I don't know why not more popular?

What Theatre of War did well and Theatre of War 2 polished, Theatre of War does even better and improves even more. And guess what, people don't love this game as much as they love the earlier games. I don't really know why, probably because it moves away from the oh-so-popular World War 2 setting and exchanges it for the less popular Korean war? Maybe because missions get slightly monotoneous after a while? Maybe because expectations grow faster than the series developes? I don't really know because I found this game at least as good as the previous ones, and appreciated the fact it overs one of the least popular conflicts - the Korean war. This very fact alone is a good enough reason to get this game and give her some of your time.

81

Great killer apparatus costume

Now this is an awesome new skin for the assassin! Full of good old steampunk (or maybe even clockworkpunk) feel to it, makes the assassin look even better - just as if he didn't look good enough. With many gears on his arms and torso, pickelhaube-inspired helmet, and retro goggles, the assassin looks like a sophisticated mysterious apparatus created only to destroy and kill. I may be biased, being a huge fan of all these retro cyberpunk derivatives, but this costume looks really amazing. If you are into expanding your Borderlands 2 game with additional alternate outfits for your characters, this one would be a must-have if you think like me.

81

Great killer apparatus costume

Now this is an awesome new skin for the assassin! Full of good old steampunk (or maybe even clockworkpunk) feel to it, makes the assassin look even better - just as if he didn't look good enough. With many gears on his arms and torso, pickelhaube-inspired helmet, and retro goggles, the assassin looks like a sophisticated mysterious apparatus created only to destroy and kill. I may be biased, being a huge fan of all these retro cyberpunk derivatives, but this costume looks really amazing. If you are into expanding your Borderlands 2 game with additional alternate outfits for your characters, this one would be a must-have if you think like me.

87

Beautiful platformers

If you like platformers you must be familiar with the Giana Sisters - either this new re-imagined version or the old pixel art game. The game is based on a great concept of morphing one character into another, which also causes transformation of the enviroment and platforms. So for example if there is some unreachable spot, you may be able to reach it after morphing into the other character as the surroundings will change with you. Now you can get the game with its new standalone expansion, Rise of the Owlverlord. You will get more than your share of jumping, running, dashing, twisting, and morphing there. Add some boss fights and collecting crystals and you have a full picture of these beautiful platformers.

85

Serious WW2 strategy

Who remembers the old strategy games from Command Mission series? They were some of the most realistic and detailed battlefield simulations in World War 2 setting. Unfortunately their visuals and audio don't stand up to current standards of today, but there are worthy successors of their heritage. The Theatre of War series may be something like the Combat Mission games used to be, but better suited to modern gamer's needs. The first game of the franchise is a serious strategy game, which allows you to zoom in to the battlefield and oversee every detail of ongoing battles. With great visuals and accurately represented sounds, it becomes as believable as World War 2 strategies have ever been. It's not a casual RTS like the Company of Heroes games, but more of a serious and involved game which will demand some learning and practise from you, but will pay it back with satisfaction and joy that you will find in playing it.

75

Improves the gaming experience

British Unit Pack for March of the Eagles is simply a collection of new models for British units. If you're familiar with Paradox and their marketing model you know the kind of expansion. Although not necessary for the game, it adds to the gaming experience by making the visual side more accurate and detailed. Instead of simply generic units you can get correct and accurate depictions of your famous British units. This will allow you to see Highlanders, King's German Legion, British Dragoons, Guards, Light Infantry, Guard Cavalry, and some others on your battlefields. If you aks me if you should get this one, I will answer in a bit indirect way: If you are only interested in the actual gameplay and don't care much for visuals, you can ignore it. But if you want as good gaming experience as possible (and most of us probably do), you should improve your game by adding these additional units to your game.

70

Advantage for Royal Army players

If you play or intend to play Battlefield Heroes, you will surely appreciate the advantage that you can get from getting a Starter Pack. There are different packs for different forces, and the Royal Army Large Starter Pack is a great collection to get you going with your Royal Army forces. It is a collection of several bonus additions, which will give you an edge in your games. For example you get 24.000 funds to spend in the game, new unique grenade launcher and a special legionnaire outfit. Moreover you get a XP boost for thirty days, which you should use to your advantages in your early days of gaming. All these items purchased separately would cost much more, so if you are serious about playing Battlefield Heroes, you should get this pack.

65

New music for the new Pac-Man

Pac Steps BGM DLC is a music addition to your Pac-Man Championship Edition DX+ game. If you feel your basic soundtrack is not enough for your gaming needs, or simply are a drum 'n' bass fan, you will surely be interested in this addition. The new tracks have quite a hypnotic trance feel to them, mostly reminding of electronic music, but in fact they're not all electronic music. About half of the new music is more natural and 'analogue' but it blends really well with the electronic part. And if you are sentimental about the Pac-Mania tune, you will like it even more. The only reason for not getting this one may be either if you hate drum 'n' bass music or already have the All You Can Eat Add-on Pack, because the new tunes are already included there.

55

Funny vehicles, various sceneries

SuperSonic Racer is a racing game which takes you to races in various vehicles in various enviroments, like different planets. Don't expect it to be very serious or mature game though. It's best played by or with kids, but I am not saying adults wouldn't enjoy it. They might like the diversity of vehicles offered by this game, which includes large trucks, taxi cabs, motorcycles, spacecraft or other futuristic vehicles. When you combine them with diverse sceneries that you will have to race in, you are getting a pretty good number of combinations which should provide different racing experiences. Unfortunately I think these differences will not be enough for a veteran racing gamer, but for a beginner they should provide some fun.

70

Make Europa Universalis IV look even better

The map in Europa Universalis IV looks looks impressive without any doubt. It's better than ever before and still there are some additions to the game which make it even prettier. The new National Monuments II pack adds a selection of new landmarks to decorate the world map even further. It adds beautiful depictions of famous buildings, including: Hagia Sophia, Stone Henge, Buddha Statues, Machu Picchu, Chichen Itza, The Parthenon, Petra, The Forbidden City, Easter Island Statues, Himeji Castle, and Tenochtitlan. Is it a necessary expansion? Not really, but thinking like this you could easily be still playing games in text mode without any graphics. So why make your game less visually pleasing if somebody put some effort into making it look good?

80

World War 2 with a great twist

Oh my, I just love alternate histories, and this game includes one that I haven't ever seen mentioned. This real time strategy game is set in a word in which Adolf Hitler is killed in an assassination, and so Germany can make a pact with Japan in which they arrange to launch and assault on America. How can you not love this idea? You can play this history in a game which features both a single player campaign of a dozen of misssions, or a great multiplayer mode with up to four players on one map. You will get a wide choice of units, which can additionally be upgraded for an even wider choice of options. You can lead one of nine nations, including such historically minor combatants as Czechoslovakia. What more could you ask for if you want an alternate WW2 game?

78

If you like difficult games...

Alien Rage is a new shooter from Polish studio CI Games. It surely looks good but does the game play equally well? At the beginning you may wish to quit, but if you just play on and get through the first hour of gameplay, you will let the game spread its wings out and show its potential. The game should please gamers who appreciate difficult and demanding games. Even at easier difficulty settings it can be challenging. Although the storyline is not very interesting and unique, and the game is not very innovative, it can surely be fun to play. Especially the bosses that you will encounter stand out and can remain in your memory for quite some time. Although not easy to beat, they can be defeated with some effort, so I think this good balance of difficulty deserves a special mention.

50

What works on a mobile, doesn't have to impress on a computer

I think the game is a port of a mobile app, but I cannot be sure if it wasn't the other way around. And if it's the way I suspect, the game seems to be better suited for a mobile device than a full-sized computer. When playing on a computer I expect something more from the game than just being an endless runner. Maybe it's a matter of my misplaced expectations, but what is fun on a mobile, doesn't have to win my attention on a computer just because it has to compete with so many other games. All in all the game is not bad if you like this kind of games, and it surely looks good (especially for a mobile device, because we've seen better things on computers). You just ride ahead throughout a randomly generated world and sometimes joust an enemy. With an additional (but light) storyline the game certainly can be fun, but I am afraid that not fun enough for me.

80

Rubik's cube meets Tetris

Critical Mass is a typical indie game. It cannot win your love with its graphics, but can steal a lot of time with its great puzzles. It feels much as if it was heavily inspired by the Rubik's cube toy, and the idea is similar - you move the blocks of a colored mass of blocks to link them into chains of the same color. Matched blocks of the same color disappear, and removing them all is your goal. In the meantime the mass grows and gets closer to the front, and imaginary touching the screen signals your defeat. So you need to remove blocks not only to win but also to delay your failure. It's easy to learn and is almost as addictive as good old Tetris.

65

Low-priced racing destruction feast

OK, it's not the best driving game I've played, but for the price (especially if you include the discount voucher) it is a steal. And it will surely give you more entertainment than the price tag would suggest. For a lower-tier-priced game it really looks good and plays realistically enough. No, it's not a simulation, but a real destruction derby. You will be racing on interesting tracks, which are destructible to large extent. Not only you can bump and crash into things, but racing cars will have weapons and so will yours. Use it to your
advantage and enjoy the trail of destruction you will be leaving behind!

72

Decent but not unique

Hunted: The Demons Forge didn't take the audience by storm. Actually it went slightly unnoticed, but I am not surprised. There have been many other similar games, even though this one is a decent fighting game, or maybe an action game. It's all about combat and the tory is just a reason to justify your wandering around and fighting. And you can either be fighting as a tough macho fighter, or a swift elf marksman (oh well, a markswoman in fact) with a bow. Both offer completely different gameplay styles and you won't get bored easily as you can switch between them using stones found in the game. The game looks good, sounds good and plays good. The problem is that the competition in this genre is pretty tough, so for many it could have been just another hack 'n' slash game.

80

Very good expansion

Resurrection of Evil is the only official expansion to Doom 3. And even if the game is a bit old now, it ages really well. There are some excellent graphical mods, improving texture quality and adding some visual effects, which bring the game into the same line as currently released shooters. And it's hard to beat the claustrophobic atmosphere of this game. The expansion offers more of the same game that you know from the base game. It doesn't fall short and doesn't disappoint. So don't be discouraged with it's age, it's easy to cover up with some mods and enjoy one of the best shooters available on PCs.

76

Brutal and short

Why do good games have to be so short? This is a good action game, based on a story of Dick Marcinko, a special forces operator, who wrote a book about his experiences. And the book became the base for this game. Of course it's not a completely accurate recreation of the book, but it's all for the game's benefit. You get to play some spec ops actions in the East, but just when you start getting immersed in the game and involved in it, the game ends. And wait, is this all? Nothing more? No expansions? Why? Well, only multiplayer gaming remains if you want to keep playing. And you will likely have because the game is brutal and memorable.

75

Smaller DLCs packs collected

The first Dawn of War featured some larger scale battles in the Warhammer 40.000 universe, but the second game - Warhammer 40000: Dawn of War II zoomed up to smaller squad-sized fights. This also allowed more detail and customization of your warriors, which is what the wargear packs are for. Warhammer 40000: Dawn of War II: Retribution - All Wargear DLC is in face a collection of smaller DLCs, which added a few items each. Each of these little packs was meant for one race in the game: Chaos Space Marines, Eldar, Imperial Guard, Ork, Space Marines, and Tyranid. These aren't any real game-breakers but I think if one is into Warhammer 40.000, they will want to have as many options available as possible. And this collection makes it easy and pretty cheap.

78

Play with cool people

Brink may not be the most popular shooter, but now it's on sale, which gives us a chance to geet it at a good price with all the expansions. The game comes with all three expansions which were released for it: Agents of Change, Doom/Psycho Combo Pack, and Fallout/Specops Combo Pack. All of them add new weapon attachments and skins for player characters, so I won't be going into too much detail about them, as you can see them on screenshots. I think what deserves special mention is the Agents of Change pack, which also adds new skills and maps to play on. I think at the price the game is a pretty safe bet - if you like it you won't regret the money spent, and even if you think there are better ones - I recommend playing some more multiplayer games with friends, as your judgement may change depending on the people you play with.

81

New campaign begins

What if George Washington hadn't been the great American hero but a tyrant and madman? Now you can follow this alrernate version of history in the Assassin’s Creed III: The Tyranny of King Washington trilogy, that The Infamy is the first part of. It's still the same goa od Assassin's Creed III with its rapid action and great looks, but the expansion tells us yet another story. Just remember that the DLC is a part of the Season Pass so you don't need to buy it separately if you have the Season Pack for Assassin's Creed III. Believe me, Washington as a villain is simply epic, but Connor with his new power of the spirit of a wolf is a worthy protagonist to oppose him.

78

Good choice of steampunk weapons

Killing Floor is mostly a multiplayer game and although it can be played as a singleplayer game with bots, it really was made for multiplayer, and with multiplayer games every chance of customization of your character is always welcome. There are many skins for player characters in Killing Floor, and a good choice of weapons. Now this Community Weapon Pack 2 adds some steampung-themed custom designs. And while I am often pretty cold about such additions, I cannot resist the style presented by these new weapons. They're highly detailed and decorated, with lots of golden-brass touches, and look almost magical. I like steampunk so this pack was a no-brainer choice for me.

79

Decent medieval strategy

Reign: Conflict of Nations is one of potential rivals of Medieval II: Total War, but in fact it's pretty different. Although both games are strategies based in the medieval period, Medieval II seems to be focused on RTS battles with the campaign being only a connection between them, while Reign is more about the big picture: building the empire, ruling your country, and taking care of progress and expansion. I must say that although the game is not perfect, it looks and plays well. Much care was taken to make the game historically accurate or plausible, with tech trees and development based on real historical facts. In my opinion the effort pays off and the game remains a good choice for a fan of medieval strategies.

65

Allows some customization

Battlefield Heroes is Electronic Arts' popular third person cartoon shooter. It's amusing, fun, fast, and not serious. You can play as either the Royal Army or the National Army, and thanks to match making you can get your opponent fairly matched. The Battlefield Heroes National Army Medium Starter Pack adds a new Desert Fox clothing set, uniquely skinned Grenade Launcher exclusive item, 14000 Funds and XP Boost for 14 days. If you enjoy online shooters and don't want to play anything as serious as the Battlefield series or other Medal of Honor games, this may be much better choice for you, and with the expansions you can customize your game even further.

83

Two good games set in the Middle-Earth combined into one pack

While Guardians of Middle Earth is good and the Mithril Edition makes it complete by adding all the available guardians to your game, it's only one take on JRR Tolkien's Middle-Earth. And there have been many others - strategy games, RPG games, action games, and Lord of the Rings War in the North is an interesting (and surely visually appealing) take on ths subject. It combines some elements of a role playing game with action game and classic hack-and-slash. And it gets even better in multiplayer mode, when you can cooperate with your buddies. Your journey through the Middle-Earth will be a feast for your eyes, and you will meet some characters you must know from the books and movies. So for a fan of JRR Tolkien's fiction, this pack is an excellent way to save some money and still get two good games set in the Middle-Earth.

69

No multiplayer

What a shooter! Although it doesn't look serious with all the bright colors on the screen, it's still a very good shooter. No, it's not a simulation and you should take it with tongue-in-a-cheek approach, but it's worth a try. You will smile and then grind your teeth, but you will enjoy it if you like some good shooting. You will play as a prohibition-era detective, use many different weapons, earn rewards and trophies, and play through many challenging but fun levels, as long as you don't want to buy the game for its multiplayer mode, simply because there isn't any. But for a singleplayer it's just a pretty fun shooter.

81

Anno 2070 with all the expansions

The whole Anno series used to be very interesting and demanding economic strategy games, but the Anno 2070 seems to beat them all. It's a futuristic simulation, allowing us to control a society and build and expand their cities. With the Complete Edition it becomes a must-have for every fan of economic simulations or sci-fi strategies. The game is expanded by the excellent Deep Ocean pack, which details underwater expansion of your population, collection of lesser DLCs - adding many new buildings, skins and decorations, and finally exclusive Premium Content in form of official soundtrack and a poster with technology tree, which is always helpful when planning your expansion and development. I would recommend buying this pack instead of the game alone, because eventually you will want to have all the additions anyway.

66

Decent game for quick gaming sessions

When you see Hexodius you may immediately think it's a mix of a dungeon crawler and twin-stick shooter. And you will not be wrong. That's what Hexodius can be described as in a quite accurate way. Don't expect too much of any story from this game. It's all about pressing forward and shooting incoming enemies. And while it can be fun for some time, it can become monotoneous after that time. I wouldn't consider it a long-time game that you will keep playing for many hours. Instead it can become a quick break between more demanding games, or a decent pastime when you have a few minutes for relax.

95

Perfect Deluxe edition for fans of the Shadowrun world

Shadowrun Returns must be every cyberpunk role playing gamer's most awaited game of the year. Now that it's here, we can enjoy the game or even get a special edition of Shadowrun Returns, which comes with some extra content. The Deluxe version comes with a full soundtrack which may seem like a tribute to the original console soundtracks for Shadowrun. And then there's also an excellent booklet, included as a PDF, which contains a collection of short stories set in the world of Shadowrun, presenting its richness and uniqueness, and a beautiful showcase of concept art - overall like 60 pages of Shadowrun-themed art, which is a real eye-candy for every fan of this universe.

70

Costume extravaganza

The number of character skins for Awesomenauts can be overwhelming. Buying them separately can be tough for your wallet, but for a completionist player or a real collector not having all the expansions for a game can be a true dishonor. In this case packeges like the Costume Party and Costume Party 2 are real money-savers. This pack adds nine different skins for players to use. There is a pirate-themed Cap'n Vinnie & Seadog Spike, chicken-like Cluck, purple-skinned surfer Coco McFly, Demon Skoldir, Double O Yuri, Far-East-inspired Kage Genji, Pimpy G, Ravishing Raelyn and a female warrior monk - Shaolin Ayla. With such a choice of player skins you are not limited to what comes in the base game, and can easily (and for reasonable price) make your collection more complete.

92

One of the best sci-fi shooters

Blood Dragon is a standalone expansion to Far Cry 3, which is one of the most enjoyable and memorable shooters. Which is important, Blood Dragon makes it even better by taking the story into a futuristic science-fiction setting. With the addition of sci-fi weapons, fabulously colorful surroundings, and intense gaming experience it immediately became one of my favorite sci-fi shooters. And the best thing is that you don't even need Far Cry 3 to play it, so if you're not interested in the base game you can do without it. The character you will play as is a tough sergeant, with no moral problems or questions. He's good at doing his job, whether it involves killing people or strange tigers with glowing eyes or even dragons. And this game allows you to take his place, and make it an enjoyable experience!

70

Closing chapter

The Tyranny of King Washington: The Redemption is the final chapter, closing the The Tyranny of King Washington trilogy. Just like the previous parts it follows the story of George Washington turned tyrant, an alternate version of history of the United States. With such an unusual premise we could have expected a truly unique expansion, but even if it's a good one, it doesn't impress as much as it could have. Generally, if you liked the previous two parts of the trilogy, you will enjoy this one as it is very similar to the previous two. The missions are pretty similar and the length of the expansion isn't overwhelming as well. I think it is a good decision to split the story into three parts, as you don't need to pay for the whole thing and only purchase next chapters when you're done with the previous ones.

60

Powerful weapon for multiplayer

While as a single player game Warhammer 40000: Space Marine is good and satisfactory, it also allows to play in multiplayer mode with up to 16 participants. It is this mode that the power sword was designed for.

Warhammer 40000: Space Marine - Power Sword DLC adds a new weapon to player's arsenal. Power sword is a close combat weapon, efficient both against armoured and unarmoured targets. It will allow player to perform new combos and watch some pretty animations of enemies being defeated by its power field and edge. Despite its uselessness for the singleplayer campaign, it is still a good addition to every multiplayer gamer's weaponry.

65

Why so incomplete?

World in Conflict: Soviet Assault is a good addition to World in Conflict, but although its quality may be satisfactory for a World in Conflict fan, there's simply not enough stuff in it for me to call it great. The base game was missing a campaign that you would play as Soviets, and this expansion is supposed to solve this problem. Unfortunately instead of a full campaign we are getting only a few Soviet missions, which are surprisingly mixed into the base campaign, so if you want to play the new missions, you will be replaying the original US campaign with some additional missions played from the Soviet perspective. I would honestly prefer having a complete new campaign for Soviets, because the game was good enough to deserve it. So while the new missions are good, the complete concept still falls short of my expectations.

70

For those who were late at the EU IV party

In the best tradition of preorders, those who preordered Europa Universalis IV received some interesting additions to their game. And these are not purely cosmetic, unimportant expansions that you can easily ignore. The Purple Phoenix pack expands the subject of the Byzantine empire by adding new events and graphic customizations of units and pictures. The 100 Years War Unit pack, obviously, addresses the 100 Years War period, and makes it more historically accurate by adding new and more period specific unit models.

Now you regret not having preordered the game? Don't worry, you can still get the DLCs separately. That's what the Europa Universalis IV: Pre-Order Pack is for. So if you jumped on the EU IV train too late, get it and enjoy your improved gaming experience.

60

Even more control over your characters

Crusader Kings II: Customization Pack DLC is a funny thing. Not a necessary thing for sure, but if you are the kind of player who enjoys customizing their characters, giving them that special personal touch - this pack may be good for you. The diversity it offers is nearly unlimited, and for the low price it may be a worthy addition to your Crusader Kings II collection, although it's more of a curiosity than crucial expansion. It allows to modify haircuts of your characters, choose names for their children and even name bastard dynasties and duchies that you create. Can you play without this DLC? Sure, but why not add this little personal flair to the game, which is already pretty strong on its role-playing aspect.

82

Funny little adventure game

Ittle Dew is a nice little adventure puzzler game with beautiful cartoonish colorful graphics. I couldn't resist the feeling that it reminds me of Zelda kind of games, which is a very good recommendation in itself. You know, you travel through a pretty hand-drawn world, use tools, combine them, solve puzzles, and meet strange creatures. And the whole gameplay is so light and entertaining that you will surely replay the game even after completing it. I think there's one additional funny thing to the game - although its gameplay time is declared
as 5 hours, there is an additional reward for fast completion of the game in one quick run of under 15 minutes. What is it? Well, play and find out by yourself!

84

Lost Planet series rebooted

I was not quite sure how high my expectations regarding this game should be, after the second Lost Planet game, which (although visually superior) didn't manage to remain as interesting as the first part of the series as far as the story and tension go. Fortunately the third game returns to the right track with everything that was wrong in the previous part. The storyline is much better and I think I won't be spoiling it when I say this game is actually a prequel to the series. This gives us the opportunity to play as beginners in survival on this dangerous planet, and offers interesting challenges. And even if visuals could be a bit better, they're good enough for demanding players of today. So even though I am afraid the game will not win popularity contests against other recent releases, it is still a very solid game, now backed up with solid story, good characters and interesting gameplay.

77

That's what games used to be

Old games became trendy, and I think it's a good thing. They are a sign of times when creativity of game designers was challenged to turn concepts into games despite technical limitations of computers of their times. And you know, often these games have better gameplay and are more enjoyable than modern games. Of course the graphics and music don't impress now, but when you get used to them you often find yourself unable to quit playing, while many new games fail to achieve it.

Doom was a perfect example of such a game, which was impressive back then and remains fun now. Its appearance may be simplistic and ugly for some, but the game is so addictive, that you will be happy that you got all the old Doom games in this pack, so you can play on and on. Or maybe it's only me being nostalgic?

70

Typical arcade shooter with a bonus

I think there's been some kind of resurrection of the arcade shooter genre recently. I wonder why, but there have been so many new space shooters that play like the arcade games of old that it is becoming surprising. Valkyrius is your typical arcade space shooter, with one-way movement, lots of enemies, flashing weapons and bosses to defeat. But there is a twist - your ship can warp space and teleport to a nearby spot, which drastically increases the number of possible strategies. If you are a fan of the genre - don't miss this game, but if you're not - only get it if you don't have a big backlog of similar shooters. Or maybe if you like the soundrack, which is included in this pack as a bonus.

91

Demanding, tough, rewarding

Trials Evolution is a motorcycle game, but not a racer for sure. It's just the opposite - it forces you to slow down, often use a brake in order to overcome difficulties and challenges which stand between you and finishing the course. And the game doesn't make it any easier - it's difficult and unforgiving, but I think that's what earned it its faithful group of fans. If you are up for a challenge, you will get it. And if you prefer some more casual riding, search elsewhere. The game is so emotionally tense, that you will feel drained after a couple of hours of playing. But if you succeed, the satisfaction is much better than after completing a casual race.

85

Active and customizable city

The way The Sims 3 expansions keep the game alive for years after its release is impressive, but so are the expansions. The Town Life Stuff expands the social aspect of living in a city, and makes lives of your sims feel less isolated and detached. Now they can actively participate in social life of the local society, visit new buildings and venues, including gyms, playgrounds, libraries, and so on. And all of these will be frequented by other inhabitants of the city, which creates an impression of living in a bigger world than before. Of course these venues are customizable, which should please those players who like to make things their own way. The addition of new hairstyles, clothes and items, expands the already wide range of customizations in this game, making it a huge sandbox for all The Sims 3 fans.

78

Trip into the past

I was really surprised that this idea was explored so late. It was so obvious that The Sims 3 needed something exactly like this - a pack of items that would allow players to turn the world of their sims into the world of past decades. The 70s 80s & 90s Stuff Pack allows to put your sims into the 70s, 80s or 90s of the 20th century. There's everything you need for this purpose - clothes, hairstyles, items, furnishings, decorations, posters, and more. Whether you want to put your sims into the glittering disco period, make them rough grunge rockers, or play with the 70s style, you shouldn't be disappointed with this expansion. And now let's hope for the 60s to be added one day...

70

For those who were late at the EU IV party

In the best tradition of preorders, those who preordered Europa Universalis IV received some interesting additions to their game. And these are not purely cosmetic, unimportant expansions that you can easily ignore. The Purple Phoenix pack expands the subject of the Byzantine empire by adding new events and graphic customizations of units and pictures. The 100 Years War Unit pack, obviously, addresses the 100 Years War period, and makes it more historically accurate by adding new and more period specific unit models.

Now you regret not having preordered the game? Don't worry, you can still get the DLCs separately. That's what the Europa Universalis IV: Pre-Order Pack is for. So if you jumped on the EU IV train too late, get it and enjoy your improved gaming experience.

60

Even more control over your characters

Crusader Kings II: Customization Pack DLC is a funny thing. Not a necessary thing for sure, but if you are the kind of player who enjoys customizing their characters, giving them that special personal touch - this pack may be good for you. The diversity it offers is nearly unlimited, and for the low price it may be a worthy addition to your Crusader Kings II collection, although it's more of a curiosity than crucial expansion. It allows to modify haircuts of your characters, choose names for their children and even name bastard dynasties and duchies that you create. Can you play without this DLC? Sure, but why not add this little personal flair to the game, which is already pretty strong on its role-playing aspect.

82

Funny little adventure game

Ittle Dew is a nice little adventure puzzler game with beautiful cartoonish colorful graphics. I couldn't resist the feeling that it reminds me of Zelda kind of games, which is a very good recommendation in itself. You know, you travel through a pretty hand-drawn world, use tools, combine them, solve puzzles, and meet strange creatures. And the whole gameplay is so light and entertaining that you will surely replay the game even after completing it. I think there's one additional funny thing to the game - although its gameplay time is declared
as 5 hours, there is an additional reward for fast completion of the game in one quick run of under 15 minutes. What is it? Well, play and find out by yourself!

76

Bridge between Crusader Kings II and Europa Universalis IV

The nice thing about Paradox games is how they interlock with each other. One can say that the story begins in Crusader Kings, continues with Europa Universalis, then moves on to Victoria and finally to Hearts of Iron. This DLC pack is nothing else but a converter, which will allow to take your Crusader Kings II saved games, convert them to Europa Universalis IV format and then continue the story in this game.

Many fans of Paradox games play more than one of their games, so it's very likely that you would like to see the story you started in Crusader Kings II continued. Why don't you use this title as a bridge between Crusader Kings II and Europa Universalis IV? It's nothing else than that, but it does its job well.

50

Immediately unlocks new cars

Need For Speed Most Wanted is pretty much of a sandbox game, an open world for you to drive in. Here you can choose your own goals, find new missions, obey or disobey, etc. To keep playing on, you just need new cars to play with. The Time Savers Pack gives you instant access to like 30 cars. Now you don't have to waste time searching, you know all the jack spots, and gain an edge over other multiplayer gamers who haven't done it yet.

This expansion may be a bit unnecessary for those who already unlocked the cars they wanted, and not urgently needed for those who want to do it on their own without such helping packs. But otherwise if you may feel like using some help and getting access to more cars - just buy the expansion.

65

Classic cars, liveries, and more

Need for Speed Heroes DLC adds a bunch of new cars to Need for Speed Most Wanted. Fans of the NFS series will surely recognize these cars from previous Need For Speed games, as the ones included in this pack are: Lamborghini Diablo SV, Nissan Skyline GT-R, Nissan 350Z, Porsche 911 GT2 RS, and BMW M3 GTR, complete with 25 new liveries - also being recreations of the ones previously featured in other NFS games.

With a new racing event (BMW M3 GTR Most Wanted List), some new multiplayer milestones and 4 new trophies, the game increases its replayability and becomes a fresh pastime for those, who were already bored with the base game pack. Now with the refreshed content, it can excite its players again.

75

Jack Sparrow vs. Sims

The Sims Medieval didn't click with me as much as the original sims, but it's still a worthy game with some interesting concepts. The Sims Medieval - Pirates & Nobles Expansion Pack follows the general trend of The Sims games, which tend to be expanded with multiple expansion packs, which (fortunately) usually add much to the gameplay. The same can be said about the Pirates & Nobles Expansion Pack. It adds some new concepts, ambitions and quests, and obviously - new items (over 100 of them). As the name suggests the additions are either pirate or nobility themed, so if you want to make your own Jack Sparrow lookalike or play a sims version of Long John Silver - this is a good pack for you.

65

Content from the sign-up program

Whoever missed the Europa Universalis IV sign-up program, they should get the Call-to-Arms Pack pack, which is basically the additonal content which was offered in the sign-up pack. Although not essential to the game, it enhances and expands it in a nice way for a very low price.

From this pack you will get a new unit pack for your game - the Winged Hussars Pack, which adds 12 models of cavalry units typical to Eastern European powers of the period covered by Europa Universalis IV. Then there's the National Monuments Pack, which adds several famous landmarks to the map of Europa Universalis.

As I already said, the content here is not essential to the game, but I expect that no Europa Universalis IV fan will want to play without it.

82

Especially for Eastern European players

Lords of Football - Eastern European pack is an expansion to Lords of Football, which adds Eastern European teams to the game. Now your Lords of Football will also include Poland, Russia and Ukraine. Each of these countries comes with its own national league and national cup. Additionally you will find modified architecture for each of them, which allows to represent each of these locations more closely and in a more relistic way, which lets you feel as if you were playing your matches there.

This expansion will surely be enjoyed by Lords of Football fans, especially these from one of the included countries, as they will finally be given a chance to play their own national teams.

92

Totally new Sims 3 experience

I never played Sims 3 half as much as my sister, so I believe her opinion is much more accurate. She claims that The Sims 3: University Life is the best expansion to any Sims game so far, and I will not argue.

This DLC expands your game in many ways - new locations are added, parties are much more entertaining, the whole concept of learning is now more detailed and interesting as you also get to learn from social activities. The society at the campus is interesting and detailed - it is divided into three groups, and each of them can put your life and career on a completely new track by unlocking new traits, jobs and options. There's so much more to the expansion, that it can be considered a completely new and fresh Sims 3 experience.

89

Get it even if for the graphics and bonuses alone!

Alice: Madness Returns is a great 3d action game with some puzzles included. And even if it was not for the gameplay, the game would be worth playing for the visual side alone. The authors managed to create a believable yet surreal world, in which Alice tries to collect lost dreams. Whoever hasn't seen this world yet, should do it!

And if the game alone was not enough, then there's Alice: Madness Returns - The Complete Collection. It includes the game and some very nice additions, especially items usable in the game: new dresses and weapons. But the one bonus that really made it special to me was the original American McGee’s Alice game, which is included as a bonus, and remains as interesting and enjoyable as it was in the early 2000s.

70

Very diverse mix

Mumbo Jumbo Collection includes 23 games, which makes it a good deal forthe price. Although the games will not be everybody's thing, it will not be difficult to find a game for you unless you are only into high-budget AAA hits. Most of the games in this pack are either brain puzzles, or hidden object games, arcades, or a mix of these genres. For example the Midnight Mysteries games are hidden object games, but with a twist - you don't only need to find objects but also clues and infer which objects need to be found for whom. Luxor games are a mix of Zuma and Arkanoid, Chainz 2 is a link-matching puzzler, Zombie Bowl-o-rama is a funny bowling game with zombies, and Reaxxion is a variation of Breakout or Arkanoid. With so many games in the collection it's difficult to describe them all, but I just wanted to show how diverse choice of games you can get in this pack. So although these are not high-budget games, they can surely keep you entertained for many hours.

75

Jack Sparrow meets Sims

The Sims Medieval didn't click with me as much as the original sims, but it's still a worthy game with some interesting concepts. The Sims Medieval - Pirates & Nobles Expansion Pack follows the general trend of The Sims games, which tend to be expanded with multiple expansion packs, which (fortunately) usually add much to the gameplay. The same can be said about the Pirates & Nobles Expansion Pack. It adds some new concepts, ambitions and quests, and obviously - new items (over 100 of them). As the name suggests the additions are either pirate or nobility themed, so if you want to make your own Jack Sparrow lookalike or play a sims version of Long John Silver - this is a good pack for you.

55

Facelift for units

There are two types of DLCs for Europa Universalis: the big ones that add to gameplay and the small ones that don't change the game as such, but only modify its visual side. The Europa Universalis III: Absolutism pack is an example of the second kind - a minor DLC, which is properly reflected by its price. The expansion adds historically correct models for units of the absolutism age from Brandenburg, Prussia, Great Britain, Scandinavia, Denmark, Scotland, Netherland, Spain, England, Sweden, Austria, Venice, Portugal and additionally some other generic common western units.

So if you would like to give your game a facelift and want to look at pretty and varied units during your games, this is well worth the price.

90

Not so stealthy anymore

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Conviction continues the story of Sam Fisher, whose daughter was killed and now his own life is also in danger. The Splinter Cell series was known for being stealth games, but now Conviction makes it much more dynamic and focuses on the narrative. Another surprising thing about this game is how enjoyable it is, especially in cooperation mode, which allows you to team up in order to deal with your enemies, preferably in a stealthy way. Even though the choice of possible moves was limited, it still does its job well. And if you get the game in its deluxe version you will gain access to additional equipment, another gameplay mode and the soundtrack. At the moment the price is so reasonable that the deluxe version should be preferable.

78

Good aerial arcade shooter

Don't be mislead, Tom Clancy's HAWX 2 is not an aerial simulation! Although it may look like one, it is just a good-looking arcade shooter like its first part. It's more narrative-oriented than the first part, which doesn't surprise me in a Tom Clancy game, and it is a good thing because for example the cinematics and cutscenes are a good way to tell the story and create the bigger picture for the game. Every mission uses a preselected plane, and although the flight model is not very realistic and controls are badly simplified, it remains as much fun as you would expect from a sequel to Tom Clancy's HAWX. Action looks great with excellent graphics and impressive explosions, so prepare yourself for some eye candy!

95

Journey through legends

X-com games are something like a legend now. The earlier titles are respected much higher than most of the later ones. That is until the latest X-Com game was released. This pack allows you to see and experience the thrill of the whole series, with its ups and downs. It will take you from the earliest XCOM: UFO Defense and XCOM: Terror from the Deep, through XCOM: Apocalypse, XCOM: Interceptor and XCOM: Enforcer to the latest X-Com game with its two DLCs. Even if the original games may seem dated now, they're still much better than most of the later titles. And fortunately the latest game is a successful sequel to the originals, so if you still don't have it, why don't you just buy the complete collection?

70

Good pack but mostly for multiplayer gamers

The Reverb Pack includes three games from Reverb Publishing: Primal Carnage, Ravaged and Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken, and can be recommended mostly to online gamers, who play in multiplayer mode. The first of them, Primal Carnage, is a multiplayer game with dinosaurs, and not only as an enemy but also as a player character. Although not the best online shooter, it is one of the best games where you can play a dinosaur! Then there is Ravaged, another multiplayer shooter in post-apocalyptic setting, which focuses on vehicles and vehicular combat. Thinking Mad Max wouldn't be too far off. And the last one, Rocketbirds, is a platformer (for a change), which can be played solo or with others. Relaxed and amusing approach to the subject of assassination of a penguin tyrant is a refreshind approach to this genre.

75

Bold remake plus bonus oldies

Rise of the Triad is a remake of an old 3D FPS shooter, very close to the classic Wolfenstein 3D or its sequel - Spear of Destiny. The original was a really weird game at its time, and he remake manages to capture a lot of its character. Everything seems to be overdone and strange - weapons, injuries, gore, and even some puzzles which require monkey's dexterity. Visual side is comparable to the graphics of currently released shooters (maybe not from the upper price range though) but it still bears some marks of its roots, which is obviously a deliberate nod in their direction.

Then we get a pack of old games as a bonus. In this extra pack there is: Rise of the Triad, Extreme Rise of the Triad, Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold & Blake Stone: Planet Strike. They won't impress a modern gamer, but are a nice collector's thing and a chance of seeing what was remade into the new game. I wouldn't buy the pack for the old games alone, but with the same price as the remake - why shouldn't you get it with the bonus pack?

95

Great addition to HoMM V

Heroes of Might and Magic V were the return to the right path from the mistake that Heroes of Might and Magic IV are often considered to be. The fifth part looks great, plays well and has several good expansions. Hammers of Fate is one of them.

This expansion is focused on the race of dwarves, who are mostly about stubborn and resilent warriors and runes. You get an interesting new adventure with well over 10 missions, and a lot of additions to the gameplay: new skills, new spells, new maps (both single player maps and multiplayer ones), new items, new creatures, new map generator and a completely new concept: caravans.

This addition manages to keep the same high quality as the base game, so if you like Heroes of Might and Magic V, don't hesitate and get Hammers of Fate.

65

Not a perfect FPS but good enough

In Chernobyl Underground you are a mercenary hired to test a new combat helmet in Chernobyl zone. You are supposed to fight against criminals and the helmet is a great help in this task, as you will mostly be fighting in confined spaces, rooms, production halls, underground complexes, etc. The game is not much else but pure and non-stop action, so if you like intense shooting - you should enjoy this kind of gameplay which you may already know from two previous parts of the Chernobyl series. The game is not perfect and there are better FPS games available, but for what it is and for its price it offers a good amount of fun and tense action.

55

Arcade shooter of early 90s

Satazius is a space shooter, which could easily find its place in the arcades of early 90s. The graphics and sounds remind of that era, and so does the gameplay. You will be flying through some lengthy stages, often pretty difficult - not unlike in the old days. You will be given chances to upgrade and customize your ship and its weapons. We all know the drill, don't we? So although the game is enjoyable, we may have the feeling that we've already seen it all. And it is true, we've seen this kind of game so many time throughout the last 2 decades, that I would only recommend it to you if the genre is completely new to you or you are a fan of similar games.

75

Walking in dreams of others

Dreamscape is written around the concept of entering dreams of others. Here it is a pair of headphones that allows to achieve this uncommon thing. And thanks to these headphones you will be travelling and entering dreams of other characters - both playable (assuming their roles) or not playable (simply learning about their dreams). And although I must say I was initially put off by the graphical style typical for Japanese RPGs, later I learned to enjoy visiting all these various dreams, with their own sceneries and visual styles. So even if the game is not very complex or deep, it is surely enjoyable with its fresh approach to the subject and a wide range of dream worlds you will be visiting.

65

Play on!

If you spent much time playing Borderlands 2, you might have felt limited by the level cap. Now the limit is moved up to level 61, which should provide hours of additional fun. Especially that the expansion also adds much new stuff, like new weapons, gear and so on. Borderlands 2: Ultimate Vault Hunters Upgrade Pack allows you to replay the game and tinker with the enhanced equipment. You may already have this pack in the Season Pass if you have this big expansion to Borderlands 2, as it is one of the DLCs included in the Season Pass.

Yet another Ultimate Vault Hunters Upgrade Pack has already been announced, so we're waiting for the maximum level to be increased to 72, to return to Borderlands 2 and play some more!

80

Inspired by the movies

What can you expect from an expansion to a racing game? New tracks? New racing modes? New cars? Yes, this is what you get from the Need for Speed Most Wanted - Movie Legends expansion pack. This expansion adds five new cars, famous for their representation in the movies. Then there are eight sprint races inspired by famous movie scenes. Add some new achievements and milestones, and you get the picture. I think it's one of the most consistently planned and executed DLCs, with a strong theme and good production value. If you are a fan of racing games and would like to drive some cars that you could only see on the big screen until now - this is a great pack to buy!

57

Interesting but not yet impressive

So you want to build a British city? And you think Big Ben was the thing that was missing from Sim City? Now you can expand your game by adding some traditionally British buildings and landmarks, including the Big Ben. Sounds good, doesn't it? Unfortunately this expansion will not revolutionize your game and alter your city's look in a radical way. It's quite a minor tweak, so it is more like a flavour addition than a completely new style for your cities. It will add some variety to your buildings, but not much to the gameplay. I only managed to see that Big Ben is a landmark that can attract tourists to your city, but similar landmarks are already present in other national expansions to Sim City. I would only recommend this pack to people who want to have a complete set of Sim City expansions or fans who want to make their cities as diverse as possible

70

Mixing genres done well

Arcen Games is one of the game companies that became better known during the popularity of indie games. Their most popular games are AI War: Fleet Command and Skyward Collapse, which I liked a lot, so I decided to try more from them. The pack includes a survival game Shattered Haven. Reminding of zombie games, this is a bit different and puts you into various survival challenges - both in urban settings and in the wilderness. Then there are two more games: A Valley Without Wind 1 and 2. They are obviously inspired by 16-bit games and they mix different genres in an elegant way. So you get a higher level map, for a strategic level planning, while individual adventures are played in a side-scroller way. It's nice to see how much was improved in the second game in the series when you compare it to the first. It's not a colleector's only pack - if you like Arcen's interesting take and relaxed approach to mixing genres - you will enjoy these games.

90

Some still prefer it

Hearts of Iron has always been aimed at hardcore strategy gamers, and so was its sequel - Hearts of Iron II. The complete edition of the game includes Doomsday and Armageddon - two expansions to the game, and is still preferred by many gamers over the later Hearts of Iron III. Thanks to simpler graphics it may feel less cluttered and better streamlined, so whoever cares less about visuals than gameplay may actually appreciate it. It is also much less computer-resource-hungry, which allows it to be run on older computers. It is still a very interesting and demanding strategy game, one of the best of World War II strategies. As close to being a simulation of this conflict as it gets!

77

Back to the 16-bit days!

I've been a RPG player back in the days of 16-bit computers. Back then games didn't have the benefit of very realistic graphics or sounding like a concert hall orchestra. Yet they managed to keep players busy for weeks and as immersed in the fantastic worlds as few games can nowadays. Their charm was in great storylines and addictive gameplay. Chronicles of a Dark Lord: Episode 1 offers us a trip to these days, yet it takes advantage of some improvements brought by modern computers.

The story is based on a very nice concept, and is focused around a young men attempting to find allies who will help him save his kingdom. This is all represented by the usual 16-bit era graphics and sounds, even though both received some tuning, bringing them a step closer to current standards. Still both are miles away from what we are used to seeing now, but it is not a problems as retro style is becoming pretty popular now. And the game really shines when it comes to relations between characters. They are well represented and can lead to very interesting moments in the game. Even though it is a very solid RPG title, you better avoid it if you cannot stand the retro look.

72

Point and click adventure inspired by Verne

I am a fan of adventure games and have read some books by Jules Verne as a kid, so I wanted to check if the Journey to the Center of the Moon was any good. And what I found was that it's a decent point and click adventure game with interesting locations and an alien race of Selenites. In fact interactions with Selenites seem to be the focal point of the game, at least for me. You get to learn about their civilization and culture, learn their language and get to know them better. Although the game is not a faithful representation of Verne's work, it captures the feel of his works and has enough references to please a fan of Verne's books.

87

Impressive space battles, and more

There have been quite many new additions to the so-called "4X" genre, many of them being space strategies. And even if Sins of the Solar Empire: Trinity is not the most innovative, it surely is among the best looking ones! In fact trying to find any element that it might be missing is hardly possible. It seems to have everything a good space strategy needs, yet some more hardcore strategists prefer more complex (or micro-management oriented) games. If you care more about the grand strategy and love visually impressive spce battles, SotS: Trinity may be your preferred choice! I cannot think of any other space strategy in which battles are so pleasing to the player's eyes. And still it's not only a space combat game, but it has all the elements of 4X strategy: diplomacy, exploration, economy, and grand military plans. If you want your strategy games to look good, try Sins of the Solar Empire: Trinity.

60

Cartographer's dream

Although some players complained about Fallen Enchantress seeming unfinished, its follow-up, Fallen Enchantress: Legendary Heroes plugged most holes and is considered a fixed version of the first game. I always thought it's a pretty complete product, until I stumbled upon its DLCs - the Map Pack is one of them.

No, you don't need it for your games of Fallen Enchantress: Legendary Heroes, but if you get it, you shouldn't be disappointed. The name is very accurate in telling what to expect from this expansion. It includes 5 new maps, one in each size available in FE:LH, and each with some interesting design concept. Every map offers a different kind of challenge to players. And if you are not interested in playing on these pregenerated maps, the expansion adds some new stamps which will make randomly generated maps more interesting and diversified. So if you thought that maps in FE:LH are too monotoneous, this pack is for you.

68

Remastered hit of the old days

Do you remember the old North & South game that we used to play on our Amigas and Commodores? If you feel nostalgic about the old days of gaming, try your games in various emulators only to become disappointed how ugly they look in today's standards, this game should catch your interest! It's a new incarnation of the old hit, a remastered version of North & South. And although it still doesn't look like strategy games look now, it would be impossible to keep the spirit of the classic title in an even more modern style.

In The Bluecoats - North Vs South you will find everything you loved about the original game, but also much more. The interface is better done and more intuitive, graphics are whole lots better than before but they still remind of the original, the gameplay concept is unchanged but new elements are added and customization greatly enhanced. So instead of forcing yourself to play the dated original, spend some time playing the refreshed version. It's much more accessible.

83

And you thought Sanctum was good already?

I could hardly believe that Sanctum 2 is an indie game. It looks comparable to many 'big brand' titles. And its gameplay is an interesting enhancement of Sanctum. Just like its precedessor, this game is a mix of tower defense and first person shooter. You still construct your defenses and then join the fight personally, but now you can choose one of 4 classes for your character, which alters the way you will play the game. You can still play the game in a single player mode, or - which is even more fun - with friends in cooperation. And now you can unlock new options, upgrades, perks and defenses, so the game is very customizable and replayable. If you liked the first Sanctum, why don't you pick this 4-pack up and share it with your friends? All of you should have some great fun together.

75

First person... tower defense

Seeing Sanctum released as a four-pack inspired me to review it, as it's a great game, often overlooked in favour of more mainstream titles, which is a shame. The game is excellent (and followed up by a great sequel) and mixes two genres - first person shooter and tower defense. You wonder how is this possible? Well, in the best tower defense manner you plan and construct defenses to protect the objective from enemies. But in Sanctum you personally enter the fight and support the defenses with your own participation. Yet the best thing is that you can team-up with your friends and cooperate in order to achieve your goal. Now that the 4-pack is available, getting your friends involved should be even easier.

78

Not only for kids

Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed is a racing game which may seem childish at the first sight, but upon a closer inspection it reveals its entertaining nature. It is a great and humorous racer, getting the player into races on the ground, on water and in the air. There are many vehicles to use and characters to control. And just as the name suggests - they're recognizable from popular Sega games. Now the game is available as a four-pack which encourages to try its excellent multiplayer mode with your friends. Just don't let the cartoonish appearance mislead you, the game is much fun and perfectly suitable for everybody, not only for kids.

80

Serious shooter

While most first person shooters are just that: shooters, Operation Flashpoint earned its reputation in a slightly different way. It usually doesn't please fans of casual shooters, but instead it is a more hardcore gamer's choice. The best name for this kind of game would be a simulation of a soldier, or a battlefield simulation. Now the Red River is one of the most successful incarnations of Operation Flashpoint.

When I saw that the game is now available as a four-pack, I decided to recommend it to whoever likes more realism in their games and wants to play a demanding multiplayer military game. If you liked Red Orchestra, you may like Operation Flashpoint as well. Get the 4-pack and share it with your friends.

70

More casual than the name suggests

While Steel Armor - Blaze of War was perfect for more hardcore gamers, Tank Simulator is much more accessible to casual players. Even though the title might suggest some kind of very serious game, difficult to approach, it's more like a good balance of a tank simulator and a shooter or action game. You have two World War Two tanks to drive and a wide choice of missions to keep you busy. With very nice graphics, well done sounds and varied battlefields you will not get bored easily, and driving around trying to get your mission accomplished without getting your crew killed, and shooting and a wide choice of enemy vehicles remains entertaining and replayable for a long time, even if you are not a tank expert!

82

For threadheads

If you are into military strategy gaming, the name of UIG cannot be unknown to you - it's the team behind Achtung Panzer, which assures the guys know their trade. Now Steel Armor - Blaze of War is their take on military simulation genre. They stick to what they're good at - armored warfare. Their game is better for more involved players, with some knowledge about tanks and armored warfare, than for casual gamers. Some would argue that this is more of a strategy than simulation as you don't impersonate the crew in a visible way, but the degree of realism in this game made me call it a simulation, so maybe simulational strategy would be more accurate. You get to command armor in modern conflicts in 70s and 80s, multiple factions and nations are represtented and what was done to keep physics realistic puts this game on par with the best tank simulations available.

70

Hunting game

Hunting games are not everybody's thing. They're mostly about patience, good coordination of hand and eye, quick reflexes and target identification. This is not the most popular genre, as they're very different to more usual shooters. This game makes a hunting game as interesting as possible, or at least it's the most interesting hunting game I know.

It includes these concepts which make many other games so interesting - unlockable new skills, unlockable weapons, multiple types of prey (saying 'enemies' would be so wrong here) and hunting grounds. Add to this additional modes of play like shooting range where you can practice your skills and aim, and you have a complete and diveresified hunting game. And moreover you can compete with your friends by comparing your achievements and scores, which is a good motivating factor - well tried in so many other genres of games.

81

The same excellence as before

Worms has always been a game that is hard to remain impartial to. You either like this kind of game or not, but knowing how many other games tried to copy and replicate the general concept proves that there must be something interesting in it.

Worms Revolution is the latest Worms game I played, and it remains as cool as the previous Worms games. You get more of the same things which kept you playing Worms before - little worms killing each other for your enjoyment with all kinds of weapons and weird objects on candy-sweet-looking maps. But there's more to it - great multiplayer mode with active community of gamers, and puzzle levels in which you need to achieve particular goals with your worms and their weapons. And if that's not enough, the Season Pass is a good way to get all the expansions released for this game in one pack, so replayability of this game is improved even more.

75

Diversity in a new locale

Recently I reviewed the American hunting grounds expansion for Hunter's Trophy 2, now it's time for Australia!

If you are familiar with the base game and its American incarnation, you can easily imagine what to expect here. If you didn't enjoy the other Hunter's Trophy games, better skip this one too. But if you enjoy hunting games and like pretty landscapes, the game is a pretty good choice for you. Moving your hunting to Australia makes hunting in completely new enviroments possible, and just like it is with Hunter's Trophy - the difference in locales is easily visible.

You will also hunt some new species of prey, specific to Australia. Then there are some hunting dogs to accompany you, new hunting modes and types of hunting, new weapons and ennjoyable hunting weekends, during which you can experience several types of hunting activity.

With so much diversity it's definitely a good addition to your collection of hunting games.

70

RTS without building bases and collecting resources

OK, the game is pretty old now, but it was among the first strategy games with 3d graphics. For a game more than 10 years old it still looks decent and I remember how impressive it was back in the days when it was a fresh release. Ground Control was different than most other RTS games of its time, as it didn't make you build bases or collect resources - it's all about combat, combined arms warfare and more combat. Although its replayability is limited by the fact that everytime you play the mission you can expect your enemy to come in similar waves and act in a similar way, but that's where the Dark Conspiracy expansion comes handy. It expands the game and makes it playtime longer. And it all comes for a ridiculously low price. I know it's not a new title, but still worth playing.

75

More casual than the name suggests

While Steel Armor - Blaze of War was perfect for more hardcore gamers, Tank Simulator is much more accessible to casual players. Even though the title might suggest some kind of very serious game, difficult to approach, it's more like a good balance of a tank simulator and a shooter or action game. You have two World War Two tanks to drive and a wide choice of missions to keep you busy. With very nice graphics, well done sounds and varied battlefields you will not get bored easily, and driving around trying to get your mission accomplished without getting your crew killed, and shooting and a wide choice of enemy vehicles remains entertaining and replayable for a long time, even if you are not a tank expert!

74

For threadheads

If you are into military strategy gaming, the name of UIG cannot be unknown to you - it's the team behind Achtung Panzer, which assures the guys know their trade. Now Steel Armor - Blaze of War is their take on military simulation genre. They stick to what they're good at - armored warfare. Their game is better for more involved players, with some knowledge about tanks and armored warfare, than for casual gamers. Some would argue that this is more of a strategy than simulation as you don't impersonate the crew in a visible way, but the degree of realism in this game made me call it a simulation, so maybe simulational strategy would be more accurate. You get to command armor in modern conflicts in 70s and 80s, multiple factions and nations are represtented and what was done to keep physics realistic puts this game on par with the best tank simulations available.

85

The same excellence as before

Worms has always been a game that is hard to remain impartial to. You either like this kind of game or not, but knowing how many other games tried to copy and replicate the general concept proves that there must be something interesting in it.

Worms Revolution is the latest Worms game I played, and it remains as cool as the previous Worms games. You get more of the same things which kept you playing Worms before - little worms killing each other for your enjoyment with all kinds of weapons and weird objects on candy-sweet-looking maps. But there's more to it - great multiplayer mode with active community of gamers, and puzzle levels in which you need to achieve particular goals with your worms and their weapons. And if that's not enough, the Season Pass is a good way to get all the expansions released for this game in one pack, so replayability of this game is improved even more.

80

Hunting game

Hunting games are not everybody's thing. They're mostly about patience, good coordination of hand and eye, quick reflexes and target identification. This is not the most popular genre, as they're very different to more usual shooters. This game makes a hunting game as interesting as possible, or at least it's the most interesting hunting game I know.

It includes these concepts which make many other games so interesting - unlockable new skills, unlockable weapons, multiple types of prey (saying 'enemies' would be so wrong here) and hunting grounds. Add to this additional modes of play like shooting range where you can practice your skills and aim, and you have a complete and diveresified hunting game. And moreover you can compete with your friends by comparing your achievements and scores, which is a good motivating factor - well tried in so many other genres of games.

79

Disturbing but good

Binding of Isaac is very difficult and doesn't even allow you to save your game. But the gameplays are supposed to be short, maybe 15-30 minutes each, so instead of reloading you just start again. And it's very easy to die here. It's like a roguelike, but not set in a traditional fantasy setting. Instead you guide a little boy, Isaac, throughout the world hidden under his mother's house. And the world is full of disturbing creatures - attacking flies, jumping spiders, bleeding kids, mutants and such. Then there are bosses that you need to defeat before moving one level deeper. Fortunately there are many power-ups and enhancements that you will pick up during your exploration, that will make survival slightly (and I mean slightly) easier. Replayability is almost infinite with randomly generated levels and additional unlockable characters.

90

Platformer with a twist

They Bleed Pixels is not for everybody. If you don't like retro games - leave it. If you don't like platformers - leave it. If you don't like difficult games - leave it. But if you want to play an incredibly difficult retro-style platformer, the game may be a good choice for you. The graphical side is supposed to bring retro pixel art platformers to mind, even though the game is quite new. The gameplay is pretty much what you would expect from a platformer with running, jumping and killing enemies - especially with fancy combos, but with a special twist: there are no preset checkpoints. You need to kill enemies to fill a special checkpoint bar and create your own checkpoints. And using the scenery to your advantage (pushing enemies off platforms and onto dangerous elements) is recommended.

Add to this some mild Lovecraft and Poe references and interesting extras that you unlock throughout the game and you know what to expect. Good game for anybody looking for a challenging platformer!

70

God game

Reus is a god game. I mean you are a supernatural being, shaping reality for some lesser creatures to live in. There were such games already and many of them were pretty good - for example Populous or Black and White. But here in Reus things are pretty different. You control 4 giants of supernatural powers, who are capable of shaping the world they live in.

They can shape the world, but cannot control humans. The giants can interact with humans and modify their enviroment, thus making their lives easier or harder.
One thing that deserves special attention is the appearance of the game - it reminds of some flash games, but the style works just perfectly for the game, and makes it look a bit less serious than the subject might suggest.

77

Great take on the subject

In Expeditions: Conquistador you are replaying the explorations of America from the 16th century. The subject hasn't been covered too well so far and the game seems to be the best effort I know. It is a fine mix of a strategy and light RPG, reminding us of the Heroes of Might and Magic games. You know, you travel the world map, and get involved into some fights that are played in some more detail. There are some quests to accomplish and a decent storyline to follow. The game is turn-based, which is a very good change in the time of real time gameplay being the standard for strategy games.

You can also play multiplayer battles over the internet, which becomes very enjoyable if you battle against your friends instead of strangers. With graphics looking like in other current strategy games and gameplay reminding of the good old days when gaming was still fun, you're getting a fine mix that should satisfy both fans of the old HoMM games and people interested in the conquest of Americas.